OzChild, Anglicare Victoria, and Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service in partnership have successfully developed an Integrated Family Services (IFS) program in the local government areas of Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. This includes a centralised intake across the Frankston & Mornington Peninsula catchments. The purpose of IFS is to support vulnerable children and families with complex needs and to reduce the need for more intrusive Child Protection involvement.

Building on the IFS, Child FIRST was established in the catchment on 1 February 2008.  The primary function of Child FIRST is to provide an intake and assessment service (including information and advice, referral on and consultation). However, the model is also designed to enable capacity to provide short term interventions (case management of up to 6 to 8 weeks) to prevent situations escalating to the point where a more intrusive service is required. When a family requires more intensive or longer term support they can be referred to one of the agencies in the partnership for this service. This partnership is called Family Solutions.

Contact Child First partnership:

Anglicare
60 - 64 Wells Street
FRANKSTON  VIC  3199
Phone: 03 97816700

Fiona's story gives an example of the difference counselling and family support made to her and her family.